Earthquake Is Deadliest Ever In Turkey, Says Erdogan

Last week's earthquake is the deadliest in Turkey's history, Recep Tayyip Erdogan said yesterday. The death toll from the 6 February disaster climbed past 35,418, overtaking the 1939 Erzincan quake that killed around 33,000 and the worst since the modern country was founded a century ago.

- Alastair Jamieson

More than 47,000 buildings were either destroyed or so badly damaged as to require demolition.

"We will continue our work until we get our last citizen out of the destroyed buildings,” President Erdogan said of ongoing rescue efforts.

Meanwhile, the United Nations yesterday launched an appeal to help millions of survivors in Syria where aid has been delayed by divisions linked to the civil war.

A convoy of 11 trucks from a UN agency crossed into northern Syria from Turkey yesterday, just hours after a deal to authorise two new border crossings into the rebel-controlled enclave.

Damascus said the decision showed its commitment to supporting victims on both sides of the front line.

However, critics say the deal is a political victory for embattled Syrian president Bashar al-Assad, who preempted a UN decision to force open new crossings.

A Saudi aid plane, carrying 35 tons of food, landed in Assad-held Aleppo yesterday, but getting aid to rebel-held Idlib has been complicated.

"This is a constant back and forth in negotiations," said World Health Organisation spokesperson Christian Lindmeier. "Every party has to agree to receive convoys."